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Mahalia Jackson

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Mahalia Jackson Elementary School is located in the Auburn Gresham neighborhood. It serves a population that is 75% low income, 20% special education, and 98% African American.

“Given the legacy of Mahalia Jackson as someone whose artistry and activism were borne out of the experience of her people as a service to humanity, it is critical to examine her legacy in relation to this moment of school closings and its impact on African American children.[…]Naming a school in honor of Mahalia Jackson is not simply a matter of brick and mortar, but a claiming of Mrs. Jackson as an ancestor to those children the institution serves.” —Johari Jabir, assistant professor, University of Illinois at Chicago

Mahalia Jackson teaches students kindergarten to eighth grade with a half-day pre-k program and full-day kindergarten. They have an autism program and an award-winning hearing and deaf program—the only one on the entire South side.

“My children feel comfortable, they feel loved, they feel supported by this administration, and sign language and sensitivity to the hearing impaired is part of the culture here. To take that away from them now, to send them to a place where people don’t understand who and what they are — they’re going to separate themselves — this is just terrifying for me.” —Constance Morris, teacher of hearing impaired students at M. Jackson for 28 years

Fifty-three percent of Jackson’s staff is certified to work with special needs students. The building is also a fully handicap-accessible building. They provide students with specials such as art, music, sign language, and self-development. They provide SES services and tutoring.

Graduates of Mahalia Jackson have cited numerous reasons why the school should not close. Parents are unsure if their child will receive the same services their special needs child has gotten in the past.

“Once the schools close and the kids are going to the other schools, are they still going to get the same quality of education? And is that school going to be overcrowded?” —Natasha Norment

This is something the community has expressed concern for over and over. Community members are also unsure why they continue to close schools while opening up charters nearby.